India, the land of rich cultural heritage, has one or the other festival for every month. It is the spiritual and religious richness in India that each festival is related to some or other deity. One of such festival is the 'festival of lights' - Deepawali. It is the glorious occasion that is not restricted to one day, but extended to a five-day celebration. All through these five days, people are in a festive mood. Adding to the festivity is the colorful display of lights. Like every other Hindu festival, stories from Mythology are associated with Diwali too. Given below is information on the celebrations of Diwali.

Stories & Legends of Deepavali

Return of Shri Ram To Ayodhyaa The most famous legend behind the celebrations of Diwali is about the prince of Ayodhya Nagri - Lord Shri Ram. The king of Lanka, Ravana, kidnapped Ram's wife - Sita from the jungle, where they were staying as per the instructions of King Dashratha, father of Lord Ram. In order to freed Sita from Ravana's custody, Ram attacked him. This was followed by a war, in which, Ram defeated Ravan and released Sita from his custody. On the arrival of Lord Ram along with his wife Sita, people of Ayodhya decorated their homes as well as the city of Ayodhyaa by lighting tiny diyas all over, in order Importance of Diwali Sita. Diwali is the Indian festival that brings a series of festivals with it. One after another, we get a chance to celebrate five ceremonious occasions. The people of all age groups and classes with equal zeal and enthusiasm celebrate Diwali throughout India. They put on new apparels and participate in the various activities that are related to Diwali celebrations. It is a festival of celebrations such as lightings, crackers, cleanliness, colorful rangoli making, social gatherings to exchange greetings and sharing sweets with your loved ones. Diwali is a festival filled with spiritualism and...

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...Essay on Diwali
The Hindus in India celebrate many festivals. The Diwali or Deepavali is one such festival. This festival is celebrated on the new moon day after the Dussera. The Goddess Kali is also worshipped on this day. This is a festival of lights. People decorate their houses with diyas (oil-lamps) and candles. The houses and buildings look very beautiful with these lights. Goddess Kali is worshipped late at this night.Diwali is a very popular festival in Gujarat and Maharastra. It is also celebrated by the Oriyas with much enthusiasm. People follow the tradition of wearing new dresses and preparing sweets and namkeens at home. They celebrate the festival in the company of their friends and relatives. Display of fireworks is the most interesting part of this festival. Many temporary stalls come up to sell fireworks of various kinds. People enjoy the fireworks at night, young and old alike.
There is a legend that Lord Rama in the era of Tretaya won a glorious victory over the demon king Ravana of Lanka. He came to Ayodhya with his dear brother Laxman and wife Sita on this day. The people of Ayodhya celebrated his arrival and victory by lighting up the houses with candles and lamps. Thus Lord Ramachandra was congratulated.
Diwali has a great significance for the Hindu businessmen as they consider it as the beginning date of their business year. Their business is renewed from this day. This day...

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Deepavali: A Hindu Festival
By:Datcayani
Three Days Of Diwali
Deepavali is a festival of joy, splendor, brightness, happiness and a festival celebrated with light . It is the festival of lights and is celebrated with great enthusiasm by all Indians all over the world. The uniqueness of this festival is its harmony of five varied philosophies, with each day to a special thought or ideal. People celebrate each of its five days of festivities with true understanding, it will uplift and enrich the lives.
The first day of Diwali: Dhanteras
The first day of Diwali is called Dhanvantari Triodasi or Dhanwantari Triodasi also called Dhan Theras. It is in fact the thirteenth lunar day of Krishna Paksh, the dark forthnight of the month of Kartik. On this day, Lord Dhanwantari came out of the ocean with Ayurvedic for mankind. This day marks the beginning of deepawali celebrations.
On this day at sunset, Hindus should bathe and offer a lighted deeya with Prasad (sweets offered at worship time) to Yama Raj, the Lord of Death and pray for protection from untimely death. This offering should be made near a Tulsi tree, the Holy Basil or any other sacred tree that one might have in their yard.
Dhanteras Celebrations
Dhanteras is celebrated with gusto and enthusiasm. "Lakshmi-Puja" is...

...Deepavali or Diwali (Sanskrit: दीपावली, Tamil: தீபாவளி, Nepali: दीपावली तिहार, Hindi: दिवाली, Gujarati: દિવાળી, Marathi: दिवाळी, Kannada: ದೀಪಾವಳಿ,Konkaniधाकली दिवाळी, Malayalam: ദീപാവലി, Oriya: ଦୀପାବଳୀ, Punjabi: ਦਿਵਾਲੀ, Telugu: దీపావళి) (also spelt Devali in certain regions) , popularly known as the "festival of lights," is a five-day Hindu festival[3] which starts on Dhanteras, celebrated on the thirteenth lunar day of Krishna paksha (dark fortnight) of the Hindu calendar month Ashwin and ends on Bhaubeej, celebrated on second lunar day of Shukla paksha (bright fortnight) of the Hindu calendar month Kartik. Dhanteras usually falls eighteen days after Dussehra.[4] In the Gregorian calendar, Diwali falls between mid-October and mid-November.
Diwali is an official holiday in India,[5] Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Mauritius, Guyana, Trinidad &amp; Tobago, Suriname, Malaysia, Singapore and Fiji.
For Hindus, Diwali is one of the most important festivals of the year and is celebrated in families by performing traditional activities together in their homes. For Jains, Diwali marks the attainment of moksha or nirvana by Mahavira in 527 BCE.[6][7] Arya Samajists, celebrate this day as Death Anniversary of Swami Dayanand Saraswati. They also celebrate this day as Shardiya Nav-Shasyeshti.
The name "Diwali" or "Divali" is a contraction of "Deepavali"[dubious – discuss] (Sanskrit: दीपावली Dīpāvalī),...

...﻿Diwali is the festival of lights. It is also known as’ Deepawali’. It is celebrated in our country which joy and happiness every year. It is one of the biggest festival of Hindus. Usually it comes in the month of October and November after twenty days of Dussehra, on the 13th day of the dark fortnight of the month of Ashwin. It is celebrated in the memory of coming back home of Lord Rama along with his wife Sita & brother Laxman after 14 years of exile. It is believed that on this day, Lord Rama returned to his kingdom, Ayodhya, after killing the demon, King Ravana and people lighted earthen diyas all around their house and celebrated his victory over Raavan. It is asymbol of victory of good over evil. Since then, the festival is celebrated by lighting diyas and candles to drive away the darkness of Amavasya and the dark of ignorance. Homes are decorated on the day of diwali and sweets are distributed. Laxmi Puja is performed in the evening and blessings of Goddess of Wealth is seeked. People present diwali gifts to their near and dear ones. Earlier, it was celebrated with diyas but slowly it took the form of lights, lighting lamps, candles and crackers. Now a days, people burn dangerous fire crackers limitlessly. Crackers have big hand in polluting our environment. The toxic substances used in the firecrackers release toxic gases that are harmful to the health of all living beings. The noise of the crackers cause immense...

...Hindu festival of lights – Diwali
Deepavali or Diwali as it has come to be known as, means many things to many people. It means holidays from school, shopping expeditions for clothes, sweets, gifts and crackers to children. To the office-goer it means an annual bonus that can make all this happen.
To the businessman Diwali means brisk business just as to the clay potter, Diwali is the occasion of the year when the bulk of his sales are made. Diwali has a special significance for the trading communities of India who usher in their new year and new accounting books ('bahi khata') during this time. Clearly, Diwali is the most exuberant of all Indian festivals. It is the equivalent of Christmas in the West, and people of each age have added their meanings to the celebration of Diwali.
The origins of Diwali lie in ancient India as a festival probably celebrated after an important harvest. It was a good time for the cultivators or vaishyas to celebrate. The granaries were full at the end of a long monsoon, and winter was still to come. They paid off their debts, celebrated and started afresh. Gradually, the vaishyas became landowners and traders and Diwali became a time for them to change their annual accounting books. Their new year started with Diwali.
This is the reason why Diwali is also the festival of...

...regions) or Diwali,[note 1] popularly known as the "festival of lights," is primarily a five day Hindu festival[1] which starts on Dhanteras, celebrated on thirteenth lunar day of Krishna paksha (dark fortnight) of the Hindu calendar month Ashwin and ends on Bhaubeej, celebrated on second lunar day of Shukla paksha (bright fortnight) of the Hindu calendar month Kartik. In the Gregorian calendar, Diwali falls between mid-October and mid-November.Diwali is an official holiday in India,[2] Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Mauritius, Guyana, Trinidad & Tobago, Suriname, Malaysia, Singapore and Fiji.
For Hindus, Diwali is one of the most important festivals of the year and is celebrated in families by performing traditional activities together in their homes. For Jains, Diwali marks the attainment of moksha or nirvana by Mahavira in 527 BCE.[3][4] Arya Samajists, celebrate this day as Death Anniversary of Swami Dayanand Saraswati. They also celebrate this day as Shardiya Nav-Shasyeshti.
The name "Diwali" or "Divali" is a contraction of "Deepavali" (Sanskrit: दीपावली Dīpāvalī), which translates into "row of lamps".[5] Diwali involves the lighting of small clay lamps (dīpa in Sanskrit: दीप) filled with oil to signify the triumph of good over evil.[6] These lamps are kept on during the night and one's house is cleaned, both done in order to make the goddess Lakshmi feel welcome.[7]...

...Auspicious Diwali
This year Diwali being on November 9th Friday is an auspicious day for all of us!! I start waiting for Diwali many days before !! I buy new pairs of clothes and buy lots of fireworks(best part of Diwali)I paint my house, buy lots of gifts and distribute it amongst my loved ones and start bursting crackers 10 days before!!On Diwali day I get up early bathe my self and have some delicious "PENNY"(traditional sweet of Diwali) and perform Lakshmi Pooja. And I will lit some diyas and burst a lot of crackers!!After Diwali is over, i miss it a lot!
Diwali Preparations in Indian Homes Diwali is one the most celebrated festival in India. The festival is the most joyous of all and is keenly awaited by the people. There is huge excitement amongst Hindus to celebrate the festival in the grandest possible way. Markets are abuzz with activity as people indulge in a major shopping spree in shops loaded with goods.
Preparations for Diwali festival begin months in advance. As there is a custom to wear new clothes in Diwali there is lot of planning in Indian houses as to who is going to wear what. Then the dress is to be matched with whole lot of accessories. A list is also prepared for gifts meant for relatives and friends. It is believed that Diwali is the best time to build relationships with...

...Diwali
This is the story of a prince called Rama, who fell in love with a beautiful princess called Sita, Rama and Sita got married. The king wanted Rama to become king but one of his wives asked that her son be made king and Rama to be sent into the forest for 14 years. The king was very sad but he had promised his wife she could have anything she wanted, so he sent Rama and Sita away.
Ramas brother Lakshman also went with them. They obediently lived in the forest for many years, then one day a golden dear ran by them and Sita asked Rama and Lakshman to catch the dear for her as it was so beautiful. Rama chased the dear but it had all been a trick to get Rama away from Sita.
When Rama did not return Lakshman went to look for him, while Sita was alone an old holy man came by, he asked Sita for somewhere to rest and have some food and drink. The holy man was really the ten headed Ravanda, who wanted to capture Sita and make her his wife. Ravanda took Sita to his castle on a remote island.
When Rama found out where Sita was he was very upset and set out to rescue her. Rama needed help and he went to Hanuman the monkey army general. Hanuman was pleased to help and he jumped over to the island and found Sita there. He told Rama where she was and then Rama went to fight Ravanda, who sent his army to fight the battle with Rama amd Hanumans army.
They fought for a long time until the only one left was Hanuman. He found some herbs to bring them all...